May 27, 2003
Namaste Noble Warriors!
i ain't big on birthdays.
yogis are trained in the flow
not aberration
of life.
besides,
we "age" in so many ways;
physiologically,
psychologically,
spiritually,
egoically,
athletically,
pranically,
emotionally,
karmically...
it seems to me,
that chronological aging
is least significant of all
birthdays, if celebrated with drama in younger years
creates a senseless and often agonizing anxiety
in later years
our society's over-identification with youth
causes suffering
and why so few of us
can age with dignity and grace and fearlessness.
to a yogi
it is resistance and clinging to the past
which is ugly
not wrinkles
the leaf falls from the tree when mature
- after it has grown fully into itself -
we do not spray paint browning leaves green
nor glue them back onto the stem
we enjoy their falling into the next stage
why not learn the same for ourselves?
so it is,
on my 41st birthday
i have a wish...
for you:
be not attached to years passing
whittle away instead
at the immensity of each moment
and live deeply, wonder-full-y, and endlessly.
so it is also,
that i have a birthday gift...
for you:
a poem written by a Canadian student...
"For Coach's Birthday
THERE IS A GRACE
There is a grace in the apparent fragility
Time passing, age adding, death coming
Persistence, dedication over time, cycles
Fragility becomes strength
A thin water channel becomes a canyon
An undersea flower-like animal transforms in a resistant crystal
Wavering, falling leafs add a layer of earth
Argiles, slates, the most common rocks, the most abundant ones
have been mud, have been lively shifting sea bottoms, that now
just now, as hard as they are, are returning to mud, weathered
Endless cycles, between strength and softness
Back and forth, equilibrium always delicate
always in a state of grace, in a state of faith
What's next? More strength? More fragility? One leads to the other
For fragile encourages the growth of strength
For strong teaches that to last, suppleness is necessity
What's next? Certainly not hardness and weakness
for both become washed away, eroded, transformed
toward their pure essence
of strength and flexibility
Passing through ages
always keeping the same essential identity
under many shapes, exploring many forms
Your Faithful Student,
A.M.P."
May your day ring with blessings and abundance from within your Practice...
i bow to you,
your "one-foot-in-the-grave" coach